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Palestinian groups once again called for a “Day of Rage” against Israel in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem on Friday and urged demonstrators to step up their protests.
The appeal came as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned that failure to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would increase the flames in the region.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad issued separate statements on Thursday calling on Palestinians to take to the streets following Friday prayers “in solidarity with al-Aksa Mosque.”
Hamas called on all Palestinians, especially youths, to “move to save the Aksa Mosque and defend Jerusalem against the Israeli siege imposed on the city.” Friday should be turned into a “special day in the history of the Palestinian struggle to preserve our rights in Jerusalem,” it said. The movement also called on Palestinians to clash with soldiers and settlers in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The Islamic Jihad organization also urged Palestinians to take to the streets on Friday to voice solidarity with the Aksa Mosque.
The time has come for a “popular revolution” against Israeli measures in Jerusalem, the group’s representative, Muhammad al-Harazeen, said, claiming Israel was seeking to alter the city’s Arab and Islamic identity.
Islamic Jihad leader Khaled al-Batsh said Israel was working toward “evicting” Palestinians from the Aksa Mosque. Batsh praised the recent terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, saying they reflected the outrage of Palestinians toward Israeli measures in the city and on the Temple Mount.